Wrench



MalCh 4, 1930- l J. J. SCHNEIDER ET AL 1,749,002

WRENCH Filed Dec. 6, 1927 lllllllTlI-IINUHIIIIIIll||llllllllllllllllllllllllIHHIIIIHI||||| Patented Mu. 4, leso l (UNITED sTATss 'PATENT ori-ics JOHN J. SCHNEIDER lAND EDWARD NESTER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK WRENCH;

Application led December 6, 1927. Serial No. 298,082.

This invention relates to a wrench and more particularly to a wrench in which provision is made for locking the jaws in any desired position relative toeach other thereby preventing1 the jaws from losing their adjustment an facilitating the use of the wrench. One of the objects of the invention is to provide such a wrench which is simple and inexpensive, and in which the locking elements can be thrownl easily and quickly into and out of locking engagement with the jaw adjusting elements and when so engaged will operate to reliably hold the adjusting elements and the jaws in the desired position.

Another object is to provide such a locking device which is operated from opposite sides ofthe wrench thereby greatly facilitating its use. j

A further aim is to produce a lock which is durable and will withstand the severe usage to which tools of this character are subjected without getting out of order or losing its eiciency and also to provide a locking device which can be readily applied to standard wrenches. j

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a wrench embodying the preferred form of our invention. Figure 2 is a longitudinalsection online 2 2, Fig. 1, showing the locking mechanism in an operative position. Figure 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the locking mechanism "in an inoperative position. Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and showing a modied form of the wrench. Figure 5 is a longitudinal section on line 5-5,

Fig. 4. Fi re 6 is a fragmentar side view similar to Fig. 4 but viewed from t e opposite side of the wrench. j

Similar reference numerals refer to like parts in each of the views.

. The form of wrench shown in the drawings includes a handle 10 and an integral head 11 which head is formed to provide a `fixed jaw 12, this jaw cooperating with a movable jaw 13 to grasp the object to be turned by the wrench. The handle of the wrench is formed to provide` a relatively thick rim 14 which formsA agrip and a thin web 15 which ,gitudinally and` the movable jaw is moved forms two pockets or recesses 16, 17 on opposite sides of the wrench. Thehandleisprovided with the usual opening 18 at the outer end of the wrench by which the wrench may be hung when not in use. 1

The movable jaw 'is supported by a relatively thin web 19 which is slidin ly supported in the reduced part 20 of a slot which is provided inthe head 11 and' extends parallel with the line of movement of the jaw 13. The rear end 22 of this slot is enlarged and receives and guides a rack 23 which is formed integrally with the web 19. The head 11 is also provided with a rectangular opening 24 which extends transversely through the head and houses a worm 25. The axis of this worm is engaged parallel with the line of movement of the jaws and engages the teethof the rack 23 so that as the worm is turned in one direction or the other, the rack is moved lontoward or. from the fixed jaw. The worm may be mounted for rotary movement in any well known and usual manner and to facilitate turning 4of the worm by the fingers of the operator, the outer surface of the worm is knurledor milled.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-3, the recesses or pockets 16 and 17 on opposite sides of the handle open into the transverse opening 24 which houses the worm 25. Within these recesses 16 and 17 two fiat spring detents 26 are secured to the web 15 b a rivet 27 and at its outer or front end eacli of these spring detentsis bent laterally inward to form a tooth 28 which projects toward the axis of the worm 25 and upon inward movement of the detent engages the knurled or milled surface of the worm on the corresponding side of the wrench, these teeth thereby cooperating to prevent rotation of the worm in.' either direction.

The spring detents are held against lateral displacement by the rim 14, and the spring tension of the detents tends to hold them away from the web 15 and their teeth out of engagement with the knurledsurface of the worm. To move and hold the detents and their teeth in locking position, registeringy slots 29 are provided 1n the web 15 and the two detents 26 1 0 between the riveted ends of the detents and the wrench head 11 and in these slots 29 is arranged the shank of a sliding rivet or bolt 30. This. rivet is rovided with relatively large heads 31 whic engage the outer sides of the detents 26 and form finger ieces by which the rivet is slid along the s ots 29. In the will be noted that the rivet extends completely through the wrench and has heads at opposite sides thereof, thereby permitting the manipulation of the lock from either side and greatly increasing its serviceability.

In thev modified form' of the invention shown in Figs. 4-6, only one spring detent is employed.` In this construction the outer end of the detent 26 is bent to form a laterally extending portion 32 which extends throng v ferred form, the slidin 'wrench having a very simple, inex ensive,

the opening 24 which houses theworm, and the outer end lof this laterally extending part 32 is formed to provide a tooth 33 which engages the milled surface of the worm 25 on the opposite side of the wrench. In this con-V struction the tension of the detent tends to hold the detent in locking engagement with l the worm and upon shifting the rivet 30 fora wardly' the detent iscompressed toward the handle to release the en agement bet-Ween the p tooth andthe worm.v n other respects themodified form is substantially like the prerivet 30 in'particular extending through-t 1e handle and detent and being operable irom opposite sides of the wrench.

As a whole this invention provides a ated loc in durable and readilymam'pu de- 'vice which'is operable from either side o the wrench and securely-holds the movable element of the wrench against turning until t-he locking elementsare `released.

We claim as our invention:

1. 'A wrench including a handle, relatively movable jaws carried by said handle, a rack on one of said jaws cooperatin to effect rela` tive movement of 'said jaws, a urled worm moving said rack and means for locking said j awsrcomprising a springdetent fixed at one end Ito said handle and having a tooth at its outer'end which is adapted to b e moved into and out of engagement with the knurled surface of said worm, and means for moving said spring detent into and out of engagement with said worm comprising an element having a reduced shank arranged in registering slots provided in. said handle'and spring detent and heads arranged along opposite sides thereof,l said element beingmovable along said slots to compress said spring detent toward said handle, said element being operable fromopposlte sides of the wrench.

2. A wrench including a handle, relatively movable jaws carried by said handle, a rack moving said jaws, a worm driving said rack',

a lat spring detent secured to each side of'said upon moving said rivet toward said jawssaid detents are drawn together and the teeth thereof engaged with said worm. p

3. A wrench including a handle, cooperating relatively-movable jaws carried by said handle, a rack connected with one of said jaws cooperating to effect relative movement of, said jaws, a knurled worm moving said jaws and means for locking said jaws comprising a spring detent fixed at one end and movable laterally of the length of said handle, and a' sliding element extending through said handle and lsaid detent and movable longitudinally along said handle to move said deg5 tent into and out of engagement with said worm. v

In testimony whereof-we aiiix our signa-l tures.

' JOHN J. SCHNEIDER.

EDWARD NESTER. 

